Martin Sumner: Northumberland’s Dedicated School Board Man Remembered

Tim Sumner now lives in France. He recently visited the Bellingham Heritage Centre. A volunteer suggested that Tim write about his father, Martin Sumner, who was well known in the area as the education welfare officer and Santa at school parties. Martin also served as clerk to the Bellingham Parish Council.

The 1870 Education Act mandated school attendance, leading to the establishment of School Boards. Later, Local Education Authorities replaced these boards and hired officers to enforce attendance. These officers were known as “school board man,” “whipper in,” or “attendance officer,” and were often feared by children and parents.

Tim recounted that Martin worked in Newcastle before the war, and his job remained vacant until 1947. Before the war, Martin met Tim’s mother, Suzanne. He applied for the EWO position in Ashington, aiming to gain skills after Jack Hall retired as EWO. Subsequently, he became the EWO for the rural area.

Tim’s parents married in 1948 and initially rented a small cottage for seven years, lacking electricity, water, and sanitation. Tim was born there, near a stove. In 1955, they purchased Spion Kop when the Lea Hall estate was sold off.

Martin traveled to rural Northumberland schools, initially by motorbike and later by car. He collaborated with headteachers to monitor attendance and often organized school transportation. Many rural children required free transport, the eligibility being determined by a three-mile distance, which Martin measured precisely. This often led to eligibility disputes with parents.

Each year, bids were invited for school transport contracts, which were then awarded to buses, minibuses, and taxis. Some children, formerly labeled as ESN (a term no longer in use), attended special boarding schools, sometimes located in London. Martin also played Santa at school Christmas parties, driving between schools in character.

He dressed in a red suit with a white beard, his cheeks noticeably rouged. Martin interpreted his role as clerk to the Parish Council liberally, leading to conflicts with councillors. Consequently, his name frequently appeared in the Hexham Courant. After his death, Brian Tilley penned an obituary titled, “Martin Sumner Bows Out Irreverent As Ever”. He passed away on December 18, 1994.